Single-use plastic bottles have been banned at sports complexes managed by the Delhi Development Authority as part of a comprehensive month-long cleanliness campaign designed to improve hygiene standards and reduce plastic waste across the national capital’s public recreational facilities. The restriction forms one element of a broader effort to promote sustainable practices and cleaner environments at venues used daily by athletes, families and residents. The initiative is being implemented under the Delhi Development Authority’s ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign, which commenced on September 17 and spans parks, green spaces, sports complexes and other recreational areas under the authority’s jurisdiction.

Officials stated that approximately 2.5 tonnes of waste have already been collected from the sporting facilities covered by the drive. To support the plastic bottle ban, water dispensers have been installed at the complexes so that visitors can refill reusable bottles. Additional measures include the placement of steel dustbins, new green and blue twin bins specifically intended for the segregation of wet and dry waste, and anti-littering signage intended to encourage responsible behaviour among users of the facilities. The cleanliness and infrastructure work has been carried out across a wide network of venues.

These include Saket Sports Complex, Netaji Subhash Sports Complex, the Squash and Badminton Stadium, Hari Nagar Sports Complex, Paschim Vihar Sports Complex, the Dwarka Sports Complexes located in Sectors 11 and 17, Major Dhyan Chand Sports Complex, Rashtriya Swabhiman Khel Parisar, Poorv Delhi Khel Parisar, Chilla Sports Complex and Yamuna Sports Complex. The Qutab Golf Course and DDA Lake View Golf Course have also been brought under the same set of interventions. Activities at these sites have encompassed thorough cleaning and sanitation of sporting areas, recreational spaces, parking zones, landscaped sections and other public-use areas, ensuring that both functional and aesthetic aspects of the complexes receive attention.

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Beyond physical cleaning, the campaign incorporates plantation of native tree species, environmental awareness programmes and structured public participation. It is being conducted under the guidance of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who also serves as chairman of the Delhi Development Authority. Around 75 resident welfare associations, together with students, children, regular park users and other members of the public associated with these spaces, have joined DDA officials and staff in the various activities. This collaborative approach aims to foster a sense of shared responsibility for maintaining cleaner public environments. The drive is organised around three special initiatives that give it a focused structure.

The first, titled ‘Children to the Green – Learn, Care & Participate’, involves school students and young people in hands-on cleanliness tasks and environmental education sessions, with the goal of building long-term habits of care for parks, trees and natural resources. The second, ‘Bin Before Overflow’, concentrates on systematic monitoring and timely emptying of dustbins so that overflowing containers, littering and resulting unhygienic conditions are minimised. The third initiative, ‘Capital’s Promise’, directs attention to the cleanliness and proper maintenance of public toilets located in and around recreational areas. Collectively, these measures seek to deliver lasting improvements in waste management, public hygiene and community engagement across Delhi’s sports complexes and green spaces, aligning with the broader objectives of the national Swachhata Hi Seva movement.

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